Hansen resigned his judicial position in 1946 to run for Governor of New Jersey against
the Republican candidate
Alfred E.
Driscoll. He lost by more than 221,000 votes. Following his
defeat he was campaign manager in 1949 for the City Commission
ticket in Jersey City backed by political boss Frank Hague. The ticket
was unsuccessful, as John V. Kenny defeated Hague's nephew, Frank H.
Eggers, in the Jersey City mayoral race. Hansen was reported to
have been the first person to greet Kenny on the day he was sworn
in.[2]